Media Release

Big Island police are investigating an incident in which a 16-year-old boy was injured at his Pāhoa home on Saturday (June 4).

At about 5:11 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a report of an injured person at a home in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision. Officers discovered the unconscious victim with an apparent wound to his chest area. Medics treated the victim at the scene and then transported him to Hilo Medical Center. Due to the severity of the injury, the boy was subsequently transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu in critical condition.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section learned that a high-powered air gun may have accidentally discharged, causing the projectile to injure the victim. Detectives are investigating the incident, which is currently classified as a home accident.

Police warn the public that similar air guns are capable of discharging projectiles at up to 1,000 feet per second. Although they are readily available for purchase without a permit, they are not toys and are capable of causing serious injuries or death.